Start of PARDEM project

11 November 2009 

The main purpose of PARDEM (PAR = Particles/DEM = Discrete Element Method) is to improve large-scale industrial designs and processes. For this PARDEM will provide and develop the underlying science. A multi-scale approach will relate particle and contact characteristics to predictions of industrial processes and make it possible to assess and establish the validity of DEM through a combination of fundamental theory, simulations calibration tests and validation experiments. The PARDEM project will also provide high quality training to a group of young researchers, contributing to the development of a new generation of multidisciplinary researchers able to work within the newly emerging supra-disciplinary field of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) for computational simulations of granular processes.

 

PARDEM is an initiative of Prof. Stefan Luding and the group Multi Scale Mechanics from the University of Twente together with many partners from Europe and central office in Edinburgh (UK) under the European ITN initiative. The PARDEM project will be conducted with 13 PhDs and two PostDocs (four of which are located at the University of Twente) under the flag of PARDEM. This resembles a great opportunity for prospective PhD-students from the faculty CTW and University of Twente in general and also from the other 3TUs with affinity for international and interdisciplinary research.

 

Cutting-edge project research is being conducted into the processing, treatment and storage of particle systems in the form of granular materials. Many of these industrially - relevant particle systems behave in an unpredictable manner. Therefore they are difficult to handle, causing considerable problems with regard to the fundamental understanding, design and operation of production facilities and factories. This demonstrates the urgent need for a calculation technique based on an understanding of the physics of the particle systems. Such a technique will provide an adequate predictive model for the way in which granular material reacts from a mechanical perspective, in order to develop new technologies, improve existing designs and optimise operational circumstances. 

 

The consortium involves several European universities (University of Edinburgh, UK (Coordinator); UT Compiegne, France; University of Surrey, UK; BOKU, Vienna, Austria) and major industrial partners as BASF, Nestlé, Zeppelin, Procter & Gamble as well as software and consulting companies including DEM Solutions Limited and ITASCA GmbH - and associated partners including TU Braunschweig, NASA, and John Deere.  

 

For more information about PARDEM: www.pardem.eu/